Tag: Nick Thomas-Symonds

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements his Department plans to put in place for new patients who wish to access drugs included in the Risk Sharing Scheme for the supply of disease modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis, glatiramer acetate and beta interferon after funding for that scheme ceases.

George Freeman

Colleagues are in discussion with NHS England colleagues to plan for a smooth transition from the end of the Scheme in England, and with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations in respect of Multiple Sclerosis services in their countries.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-03-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost to the public purse was of winding up the College of Social Work.

Alistair Burt

The Government agreed to make a grant payment of £225,000 to the College of Social Work for the 2015-16 financial year, to enable completion of existing projects and provide an orderly transfer of functions and resources to other organisations by September 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-05-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on pro-active inspection of the management of work-related psychosocial risk.

Justin Tomlinson

I have regular meetings with senior HSE officials where key priorities are discussed, including tackling work related ill-health.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department plans to publish the year 10 data for the Risk Sharing Scheme for the supply of disease modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis.

George Freeman

The Government expects the conclusions from the year 10 results of the Multiple Sclerosis Risk Sharing Scheme to be published in a recognised academic journal in late 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of cases being dealt with by the courts which could be resolved through a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Mr Shailesh Vara

No estimate has been made of the number of the cases being dealt with by the courts which could be resolved through a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

The Government however fully supports, and encourages, alternative dispute resolution in a number of ways, including mediation, early conciliation, and other alternatives to court.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-05-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with (a) his EU counterparts and (b) other stakeholders on proposed changes to the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (2004/37/EC); and if he will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson

DWP Ministers have not held such discussions. However there have been extensive discussions at official level with EU counterparts and with a wide range of stakeholders on the proposed changes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2015-12-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to seek the views of pensioners on (a) his Department’s policies and (b) housing for older and vulnerable people since the closure of the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing.

Brandon Lewis

The United Kingdom Advisory Forum on Ageing closed on 1 December 2015. The Department of Communities and Local Government will continue to engage with older people and their representative bodies through existing mechanisms and forums.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will break down the £22 million spent by his Department on recruiting presenting officers to support his Department in personal independent payment and employment and support allowance tribunals.

Justin Tomlinson

The vast majority of the £22m, which will be spent over three years, will be used for Presenting Officer salary costs, with a small proportion for Learning and Development, communications and start up project costs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-06-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people diagnosed with lung diseases.

George Freeman

Data on the number of people diagnosed with lung diseases in not available. However, the British Lung Foundation estimates that more than 12 million people in the United Kingdom are affected by lung disease, (of which eight million people have asthma, just over a million have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and more than 150,000 have interstitial lung disease.)

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2015-12-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to seek the views of pensioners on (a) his Department’s policies and (b) dementia since the closure of the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing.

Alistair Burt

We are committed to continuing to listen to and act on the wishes of older people. For example the Department plans to carry out an engagement programme with stakeholder groups representing older people as part of the forthcoming Carer’s Strategy.

The Government is clear that dementia remains a priority and will implement the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020 in full to make sure that dementia care, support, awareness and research are transformed by 2020. The 2020 Challenge aims to build on the achievements of the Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia 2012-2015.

The Department continues to engage with a range of people with dementia and carers including stakeholders who represent them in both delivering the Prime Minister’s Challenge 2012-2015 and in developing and implementing the Prime Minister’s Challenge 2020. The Department also works closely people with dementia and carers through its work with the Dementia Action Alliance.

The Department has funded a number of projects on dementia education and training which have worked directly with people with dementia, in order to better understand the training needs of the staff who support and care for them.

More generally through the Health and Care Voluntary Sector Strategic Partner Programme, the Department, NHS England and Public Health England are already able to work directly in partnership with well-connected voluntary sector organisations. The programme provides a way for policy makers to reach thousands of voluntary and community sector organisations. Many of these groups whom support and represent older people within their communities through the extensive depth and reach of the partners’ networks. This helps to ensure that the voice of small voluntary and community sector organisations is in direct contact with national bodies at the heart of decision making. Age UK is one of the 22 strategic partners, ensuring that older people’s needs are strongly represented.